NBA 2K Series

The NBA 2K Series is the most egregious case of a $70 full-price game weaponizing microtransactions against its own players. Unskippable ads and VC currency grinding turn the MyPlayer mode into a pay-to-compete grind, forcing players to spend over $50 on average just to make their character viable. This is 25% more than typical free-to-play battle passes, yet the game still demands full retail price upfront — a blatant cash grab that outperforms even #6 Metal Gear Survive in predatory pricing.